Web Development FAQ - Ask a Web Development Expert

How Much Should It Cost to Develop a Website?

Description: Building websites costs money, there's no doubt about that. But how much should you be spending - and how much is too much?

Creating a website from scratch is a daunting process for a novice, even if you are planning to get a professional to design your site for you. That's why it's good to know how much you can expect to spend before you get started.

Your domain name and hosting can be bought quite cheaply nowadays. Shop around to find the best deal and the best package for you; some hosting packages throw in the domain name for free. Think about what you will need before buying anything; if you are already in touch with a web designer they may be able to give you some advice here.

The biggest cost will be in getting your site designed. A cheap service usually means a cheap looking design, so you will need to be prepared to spend several hundred dollars at the very least, if you want your site to look professional. Always remember that you get what you pay for.

The cost also depends on how many pages you want your site to have, what features it needs, whether or not you are intending to sell goods from your website, and how complicated the actual design is.

When you are discussing the layout of your site with a web designer, make sure that everything you want is included, and you are not persuaded to have something you don't understand or don't want. While some companies offer to design your site for a flat fee, be sure you know exactly what you are getting in this situation. While it looks simple and straightforward you may find this structure to be too rigid.

Another option is to buy a do it yourself website building package, which gives you all the tools you need to build your own website. While they come with a lot of templates you can choose from, they do still tend to all look the same, so your attempt to drive down the costs of having your own website does come with another cost attached too.

In the end you should be prepared to spend several hundred dollars - maybe even venturing into four figures - to get the site you really want. If you do this, you will almost certainly be rewarded with better sales to offset your purchase as a result.